Saturday, July 21, 2012

Actress Elizabeth McGovern, from "Downton Abbey", poses for a portrait during the PBS TCA Press Tour on Saturday, July 21, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

They may play characters from the early 1900s, but the cast members of "Downton Abbey" might as well be rock stars.

Riding a wave of Emmy euphoria, several principles from the wildly popular British drama -- including newcomer Shirley MacLaine -- were given a rousing reception Saturday night during the PBS portion of TV's summer press tour and presided over a lively and lighthearted session.

Earlier in the week, "Downton Abbey" was showered with 16 Emmy nominations, including nods for top drama series, and lead actor and actress (Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery).

So what does the cast think about all the attention?

"We're gobsmacked," said Bonneville, who plays Lord Crawley. "... To have the show embraced so wholeheartedly from America is a great thrill for all of us."

And more thrills are apparently on the way. "Downton" returns for Season 3 on Jan. 6 with a high-profile addition in MacClaine, who plays the mother of Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern).

"I had a fabulous time and I shall never forget it," MacClaine said of her time on the "Downton" set in England.

Journalists at the press tour were treated to an extensive Season 3 preview reel, which hinted at the possibility of financial ruin for the Crawley family, revealed more tension between Lady Mary and Matthew (Dan Stevens), showed a scene of Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) in jail and included talk of a wedding -- though it didn't reveal who would be getting

hitched.

The preview also featured scenes of the highly anticipated meeting between Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) and MacClaine's character, Martha Levinson.

MacClaine, who had the reporters cracking up throughout the media conference, was asked if she has ever met Smith before.

"Well, we were lovers in another life," she joked.

Actually, MacClaine said Smith reminded her that the two had met years ago backstage at the Oscars, where MacClaine had been nominated, but lost, and was eyeing a big cake as solace. Smith told her that MacClaine dug into the cake and blurted, "(Bleep) it. I don't care if I'm ever thin again."

The "Downton" regulars reflected on a season that brought them worldwide fame, and joked about all the parodies and pop-cultural spin-offs the show inspired. As for that Internet quiz that identifies what characters its participants would be, Coyle says he took a shot at it.

"I'm Lady Mary and I'm really happy about it," he said with a sly smile.

The fun continued right up to the end of the session when Bonneville jumped out of his chair and unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a T-shirt emblazoned with a two-word plea in bold letters: